Hsiu Lee

On the Playing-field by Louise Lee Hsiu Poem by Hsiu Lee

On the Playing-field We hugged tightly in the dark playing-field, like first-time loversFor some reason, he suddenly leftHe left me in the dark, no matter that the mosquitoes were kissing meMoment by moment he was smaller and smaller until he was but a spot

Only a tiny spot of his familiar coarse cream-colored shirtWas visible as he hurried to the parking lot under the pale lightRushing to our car which we had bought togetherH had to go back to his new home

Under the pale night light he looked like he was driving into a time tunnelIn a different time our positions were the other way aroundMy position was now just as his was in times pastWe are two parallel lines that never cross each other

He has made new plans for usAnd on another day he will appear againPerhaps in the same coarse cream-colored shirtBut it will never be as it was

Yet life is short, so why do I need to avoid him？ I can continue the joy, if I love him well“But, I know, nothing happens twiceWhy, I cannot tell